Shrine visiting 101: Must-know information and recommended shrines
Japanese shrines are appealing sightseeing spots visited by many tourists. When visiting shrines, which are places of worship, we recommend you gain an understanding of basic manners and etiquette. This article will introduce some useful knowledge about three famous shrines!
What is a Japanese Shrine?
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Shrines are facilities dedicated to the deities of Shinto, a traditional religion of Japan. There are said to be as many as 85,000 shrines in Japan, which attract the worship of countless believers. On top of this, Shinto shrines bearing long histories are very popular sightseeing spots. In this way, shrines have two faces—the sacred and the secular—and are an essential presence in Japanese life and culture.
Rules for Visiting and Worshipping
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When walking on sidewalks in the shrine, avoid walking in the center wherever possible because the center is considered to be the path along which the deities pass. As you walk along the approach to the shrine, you will find a ritual water basin where water ladles are placed. Rinse your hands and mouth here before heading to worship. At the water basin, first hold the ladle with your right hand and draw some water, then pour a little water on your left hand to purify it. Then switch the ladle to your left hand and clean your right hand. Next, switch the ladle to your right hand again and rinse your mouth lightly with some water poured into your left palm. Stand up the ladle with any last remaining water, pour water over the handle to clean it, then return it to its original location.
(Image credit: KANSAI Tourism Bureau)
In front of the worship hall, there will be a donation box. Stand in front of it and insert some coins. It is common to put in ¥5 or ¥10 for luck. After that, bow twice deeply, join your hands together in front of your chest, extend them out to shoulder width, then clap your hands twice, lower both hands, and bow deeply once to finish. This etiquette is called nirei-nihakushu-ichirei (二礼二拍手一礼 two bows, two claps, one bow).
Shrine Seals and Good Luck Charms
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Seals bearing the name of the shrine or the name of its venerated deity, etc. are known as goshuin. Many people visit shrines around the nation and collect these seals in notebooks called goshuin-cho (御朱印帳 book of seals). Collecting goshuin is a major point of appeal for shrine visits.
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Many shrines sell o-mamori (お守り), which are amulets and good luck charms for worshipers. These o-mamori are intended to impart various benefits such as health, traffic safety, and academic achievement. Why not buy one to pray for your loved ones?
Shrines to Visit in the Kansai Region
【Mie】 Ise Shrine
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The Ise Shrine (伊勢神宮 Ise-jingū) is one of the most famous shrines in Japan. Under its formal name Jingu, its history is said to extend back 2000 years. The shrine grounds are divided into the Naikū (内宮 inner court) and Gekū (外宮 outer court) precincts, with each approach having its own souvenir shops, restaurants, and more.
Ise Grand Shrine (伊勢神宮)
Address (Naiku): 1 Ujitachi-cho, Ise-shi, Mie 516-0023
Address (Geku): 279 Toyokawa-cho, Ise-shi, Mie 516-0042
Nearest station: Iseshi Station (伊勢市駅)
Opening hours: 5am–6pm (May–August: 5am–7pm, October–December: 5am–5pm)
Admission fee: Free
Tel: +81 596-24-1111
【Kyoto】 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
(Image credit: KANSAI Tourism Bureau)
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine (伏見稲荷大社 Fushimi Inari-taisha) is the headquarters of Inari-san, a deity who sends foxes as messengers. Japan is said to be home to around 30,000 Inari shrines. Worshipers here are said to benefit from fertile harvests and prosperity in business. It is also famous for the Senbon Torii (千本鳥居 thousands of torii) path, lined by countless vermillion-red torii (shrine gates).
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine (伏見稲荷大社)
Address: 68 Fukakusa Yabunouchi-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto 612-0882
Nearest station: Inari Station (稲荷駅)
Opening hours: 24 hours
Admission fee: Free
Tel: +81 75-641-7331
【Wakayama】 Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine
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Kumano Hayatama Taisha (熊野速玉大社) is a prestigious shrine known as one of the three Kumano mountain shrines, along with Kumano Hongu Taisha (熊野本宮大社) and Kumano Nachi Taisha (熊野那智大社). It is also known for making up part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range (紀伊山地 Kii-sanchi), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The giant nagi conifer tree that stands in the shrine grounds, said to be 1000 years old, is also famous.
Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine (熊野速玉大社)
Address: 1 Shingu, Shingu-shi, Wakayama 647-0081
Nearest station: Shingū Station (新宮駅)
Opening hours: Sunrise–sunset (Goshuin office opens from 8am–5pm)
Admission fee: Free
Tel: +81 735-22-2533
Shrines are sacred sites where deities are worshipped, as well as open places where people gather and interact. Feel free to visit, but be sure to observe proper manners and etiquette.
This article is contributed by the KANSAI Tourism Bureau. For more information, visit:
Header image credit: KANSAI Tourism Bureau
All information presented is accurate as of 01/09/2020.
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